MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The guilty verdict in the trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin was met with support and hope of racial healing and reconciliation throughout Memphis.
In Overton Square, where activists recently painted a Black Lives Matter street mural, a few people dropped by after hearing the jury’s decision.
“I cried in my living room. I was jumping for joy, for justice. It is correct,” said Cynthia Moore. Her friend Tari Harris agreed, telling FOX13, “a joyous time for people to celebrate and give people hope who didn’t have hope anymore.”
Many people viewed the verdict as a wake-up call to law enforcement and city leaders that accountability can’t be ignored.
Sandra Brown Turner said, “If we are all equal under the law, we found out what it means. So that is good.” Her husband Larry also told us, “I have definitely been waiting for this verdict for a long, long time. And hoping that the future will have other verdicts that will also bring justice.”
Memphis experienced its own summer of protest after the video of George Floyd being murdered as then officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee for more than nine minutes onto the neck of a handcuffed Floyd.
Before the verdict, Taris Harris had doubt Chauvin would be convicted of murder “because that is the trend we have been seeing with various and different cases involving police brutality.”
Down on Beale Street, known for blues and bars, many patrons spoke out in favor of the verdict that could send Chauvin to prison for 40 years.
“He was guilty. Just plain and simple. He did something that everyone saw. And it was wrong,” said Brad England from Lexington, Kentucky.
Some other patrons had not heard that the jury reached a decision until FOX13 told them.
“I think that we had done was wrong, and it was excessive force,” said Tom Richmond of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Back in Overton Square, Sandra Brown Turner hopes the verdict will lead to honest dialogue about racial reconciliation and police accountability.
“That we can finally look at each other as equals and say enough of this craziness. Let’s do this right,” said Turner.
